THE MELT — Print & Play

Assembly Instructions

What You Need

This document, printed single-sided on paper or cardstock
Scissors or a paper cutter
~230 standard poker-size card sleeves (2.5×3.5 in) + ~230 unused playing cards for stiffeners
30 Contract cards (included as a separate page)
Pen & paper for Glory tracking (or dice, or tokens)

How to Build

Step 1: Print all pages at 100% scale (do not fit/shrink to page)
Step 2: Cut out each card along the outer border
Step 3: Slide each cut card into a sleeve with a playing card behind it for stiffness
Step 4: The top half of each card is the Frozen side (blue background). The bottom half is the Melted side (cream background). During play, orient the card to show the active side.
Step 5: The number in the bottom-right corner tells you how many copies to print for 4-player. For 2P or 3P, see the scaling table on the last page.

Quick Card Count by Player Count

2 Players: Starting decks (15×2=30), Market (~55), Era (~40), Events (6), Chronicles (12) = ~143 cards
3 Players: Starting decks (15×3=45), Market (~70), Era (~60), Events (8), Chronicles (12) = ~195 cards
4 Players: Starting decks (15×4=60), Market (~85), Era (~60), Events (8), Chronicles (12) = ~225 cards

Tip: Print only the pages you need. Each page is labeled with its section. Chronicles and Events are always needed regardless of player count.

Starting Deck — Print N Copies (One Per Player)

Each player gets: 7 Farmhand, 4 Ice Cutter, 3 Snow Shovel, 1 Apprentice = 15 cards

Frozen

Farmhand

Worker

+1 Crown

Melted

Crew Quarters

Worker

+1 Crown/turn

×7

Frozen

Ice Cutter

Worker

+1 Glory

Melted

Ice Yard

Worker

+1 Glory/turn

×4

Frozen

Snow Shovel

Tool

+2 Crowns

Melted

Foundations

Storage

+1 Ice House slot

×3

Frozen

Apprentice

Worker

+1 Crown

Melted

Foreman's Eye

Worker

Draw +1 (permanent). +1 Crown/turn.

×1

Base Market — Tier 1 (Cost 2)

4 copies (2P), 5 copies (3P), 6 copies (4P) of each

Frozen

Ledari

Worker

+1 Crown. Draw +1 this turn.

Melted

Ledari

Worker

Draw +1 (permanent).

×6

Frozen

Pike Pole

Tool

+2 Crowns.

Melted

Pike Pole

Tool

+1 Crown per melted Trade Route you own.

×6

Frozen

Ice Saw

Tool

+1 Crown. +1 Glory.

Melted

Ice Saw / Sawmill

Tool

+1 Glory each time you play a Worker.

×6

Frozen

Channel Marker

Tool

+1 Crown. Peek top 2 cards of deck, rearrange in any order.

Melted

Channel Marker

Tool

Start of turn: peek at top card, keep or move to bottom.

×6

Base Market — Tier 2 (Cost 3)

3 copies (2P), 4 copies (3P), 5 copies (4P) of each

Frozen

Breaking Bar

Worker

+2 Crowns. +1 Glory if 3+ cards in hand after playing.

Melted

Breaking Bar

Worker

+1 Crown/turn. +1 Glory/turn.

×5

Frozen

Horse-Drawn Sled

Tool

+2 Crowns.

Melted

Horse-Drawn Sled

Tool

+2 Crowns/turn.

×5

Frozen

Ice Tongs

Tool

+1 Crown. Melt +1 this turn.

Melted

Ice Tongs

Tool

Melt Limit becomes 3 (permanent).

×5

Frozen

Sawdust Bag

Storage

+1 Crown. +1 Glory. Shed 1 free. Draw 1 Contract.

Melted

Sawdust Bag

Storage

Once per turn when you melt: +1 Glory. Draw 1 Contract per card melted.

×5

Frozen

Small Ice House

Storage

+1 Crown. When melted: +2 slots.

Melted

Small Ice House

Storage

+2 Ice House slots. Melted cards protected from Warm Winter / Ice Famine.

×5

Base Market — Tier 3 (Cost 4)

3 copies (2P), 4 copies (3P), 5 copies (4P) of each

Frozen

Wyeth's Plow

Tool

+2 Crowns. Buy 2 cards this turn (instead of 1).

Melted

Wyeth's Plow

Tool

All Market cards cost 1 less (min 1).

×5

Frozen

Ice Elevator

Tool

+1 Crown. Trash 1 card from discard pile.

Melted

Ice Elevator

Tool

Once/turn: return a melted card to discard (Frozen side up). Frees a slot.

×5

Frozen

Horse Team

Worker

+3 Crowns.

Melted

Horse Team

Worker

+3 Crowns/turn.

×5

Frozen

Brewery Contract

Trade Route

+1 Crown. +2 Glory.

Melted

Brewery Contract

Trade Route

+2 Glory/turn.

×5

Base Market — Tier 4 (Cost 5–6)

2 copies (2P), 3 copies (3P), 3 copies (4P) of each

Frozen

Norway–London Route

Trade Route

+2 Glory. +1 Glory per card in your Ice House.

Melted

Norway–London Route

Trade Route

+1 Glory/turn per other melted Trade Route.

×3

Frozen

Tudor's Fleet

Wild

+2 Glory. Melt all Farmhands from hand+discard immediately (counts toward Melt Limit).

Melted

Tudor's Fleet

Wild

Once per turn when you melt a card: +1 Glory.

×3

Frozen

Sawdust Insulation

Storage

+2 Crowns. Melt +2 additional this turn.

Melted

Sawdust Insulation

Storage

+3 Ice House slots. All passives produce +1 extra primary output (does not stack with Yakhchal).

×3

Frozen

Knickerbocker Co.

Trade Route

+3 Crowns. +2 Glory.

Melted

Knickerbocker Co.

Trade Route

+2 Crowns/turn. +1 Glory/turn.

×3

Base Market — Legendary (Cost 7–8)

1 copy (2P), 2 copies (3–4P) of each

Frozen

Tudor's Empire

Wild

+3 Glory. Melt up to 4 cards this turn.

Melted

Tudor's Empire

Wild

+2 Glory/turn. Melt Limit becomes 4 (permanent).

×2

Frozen

Yakhchal

Storage

+5 Glory.

Melted

Yakhchal

Storage

Unlimited Ice House slots. All passives produce +1 extra primary output (does not stack with Sawdust Insulation).

×2

Draw Bonus Cards (Permanent)

Always available. 2 copies (2P), 3 copies (3P), 5 copies (4P) of each.

Frozen

Ice Plow

Tool

+2 Crowns.

Melted

Ice Plow

Tool

Draw +1 (permanent).

×5

Frozen

Calked Horseshoes

Tool

+1 Crown. Draw +1 this turn only.

Melted

Calked Horseshoes

Tool

Draw +1 (permanent).

×5

Frozen

Ice Chisel

Tool

+1 Crown. +1 Glory. Draw +1 this turn only.

Melted

Ice Chisel

Tool

Draw +1 (permanent). +1 Glory/turn.

×5

Frozen

Branike Ledarny

Wild

+2 Crowns. +2 Glory. Draw +2 this turn only.

Melted

Branike Ledarny

Wild

Draw +2 (permanent). +3 Ice House slots.

×5

Frozen

Master Surveyor

Worker

+2 Crowns. +1 Glory. Draw +1 this turn only.

Melted

Master Surveyor

Worker

Draw +2 (permanent).

×5

Frozen

Wenham Lake Ice

Trade Route

+3 Glory. Draw +2 this turn. Opponents -1 Glory.

Melted

Wenham Lake Ice

Trade Route

Draw +1 (permanent). +1 Glory/turn. Melted Trade Routes +1 Glory.

×5

Era I Ancient (1750–500 BCE)

2 copies (2P), 3 copies (3–4P) of each. These cards appear/vanish with Chronicles.

Era I

Frozen

Ice Administrator

Worker

+1 Crown. Sort top 2 of deck in any order.

Melted

Ice Administrator

Worker

Draw +1 (permanent). +1 Crown/turn.

×3

Era I

Frozen

Sarooj Mortar

Storage

+2 Crowns. +3 Glory when melted.

Melted

Sarooj Mortar

Storage

+2 Ice House slots. Storage cards protected from opponents' effects.

×3

Era I

Frozen

Seokbinggo

Storage

+1 Crown. +1 Glory. +1 slot when melted.

Melted

Seokbinggo

Storage

+1 Ice House slot. +1 Glory/turn. +1 Glory per Storage melt.

×3

Era I

Frozen

Radiative Cooling

Wild

+2 Crowns. +2 Glory. Melt +1 this turn.

Melted

Radiative Cooling

Wild

Melt Limit +1. +1 Glory/turn.

×3

Era II Medieval (1191–1565)

2 copies (2P), 3 copies (3–4P) of each.

Era II

Frozen

Karci

Worker

+1 Crown. +1 Glory. Give 1 card to another player for +2 Crowns, draw 2 Contracts.

Melted

Karci

Worker

+1 Crown/turn. +1 Glory/turn. +1 Contract/turn. +1 Crown when others buy.

×3

Era II

Frozen

Sherbet Road

Trade Route

+1 Crown. +2 Glory. +1 Glory if 2+ different types played.

Melted

Sherbet Road

Trade Route

+1 Glory/turn per different type in Ice House (max 4).

×3

Era II

Frozen

Pozos de Nieve

Storage

+1 Crown. +3 Glory. +2 slots when melted.

Melted

Pozos de Nieve

Storage

+2 Ice House slots. +1 Glory/turn per melted Storage.

×3

Era II

Frozen

Ixhte Fibre

Tool

+1 Crown. +1 Glory. Name a type, peek at any player's hand.

Melted

Ixhte Fibre

Tool

+1 Crown/turn. +1 Glory when you play a Storage card.

×3

Era III Age of Trade (1740–1833)

2 copies (2P), 3 copies (3–4P) of each.

Era III

Frozen

Tudor's Sawdust

Tool

+2 Crowns. Shuffle 1 card from discard into deck.

Melted

Tudor's Sawdust

Tool

+2 Crowns/turn. Melted cards protected from Events.

×3

Era III

Frozen

Fresh Pond Rights

Wild

+2 Crowns. +2 Glory if you have fewest cards in deck.

Melted

Fresh Pond Rights

Wild

+1 Crown/turn. +1 Glory/turn. Counts as any type (1 type for counting).

×3

Era III

Frozen

Opium Clipper

Trade Route

+3 Crowns. +2 Glory. Buy +1 card this turn.

Melted

Opium Clipper

Trade Route

+2 Crowns/turn. +1 Glory/turn. Melted Routes produce +1 Crown.

×3

Era III

Frozen

Ice Girl

Worker

+2 Crowns. +1 Glory if 2+ Workers played this turn.

Melted

Ice Girl

Worker

+2 Crowns/turn. +1 Glory per Worker you melt.

×3

Era IV Industrial (1857–1900)

2 copies (2P), 3 copies (3–4P) of each.

Era IV

Frozen

Norwegian Fjord Ice

Trade Route

+2 Crowns. +1 Glory. +2 Crowns if you have melted Storage.

Melted

Norwegian Fjord Ice

Trade Route

+1 Crown per melted Storage. +1 Glory/turn.

×3

Era IV

Frozen

Conveyor Belt

Tool

+2 Crowns. Trash up to 2 from discard. Draw 1 Contract each.

Melted

Conveyor Belt

Tool

+2 Crowns/turn. Once/turn: melt from discard (counts toward Melt Limit). Draw 1 Contract per melt.

×3

Era IV

Frozen

Soda Fountain Trust

Trade Route

+1 Glory. +1 Crown per melted Route + per melted Tool.

Melted

Soda Fountain Trust

Trade Route

+1 Crown per melted Tool. +1 Glory per melted Route.

×3

Era IV

Frozen

Morse's Monopoly

Wild

+3 Crowns. Opponents -1 Glory. Steal 1 card from discard (target may return 2 Contracts to prevent).

Melted

Morse's Monopoly

Wild

+2 Crowns/turn. +2 Glory/turn. Counts as Route.

×3

Era V Twilight (1943–1987)

2 copies (2P), 3 copies (3–4P) of each.

Era V

Frozen

Pykrete Formula

Tool

+1 Crown. +1 Glory. +3 Glory if Storage also played.

Melted

Pykrete Formula

Tool

+1 Glory/turn. Cards can't be demolished. Storage passives +1 Glory.

×3

Era V

Frozen

Last Ledar

Worker

+2 Crowns. +1 Glory. Melt 2 from discard (counts toward Melt Limit).

Melted

Last Ledar

Worker

+2 Glory/turn. Once/turn: melt from discard (counts toward Melt Limit).

×3

Era V

Frozen

Baltazar Ushca

Wild

+3 Glory. Melt up to 4 from hand. Draw 1 Contract each.

Melted

Baltazar Ushca

Wild

+3 Glory/turn. Unlimited slots. Contract-to-Glory 3:1.

×3

Era V

Frozen

Linde's Machine

Event

Trash up to 3 cards. +1 Crown each. Returns to Market.

Melted

—

Event

Cannot be melted. Returns to Market after played.

×3

Event Cards (Always Available)

3 copies (2P), 4 copies (3–4P) of each. Cannot be melted.

Frozen

Warm Winter

Event

All opponents lose 2 Glory, min 0 (1 Glory at 2 players). Draw 2 Contracts. Returns to Market.

Melted

—

Event

Cannot be melted. Returns to Market after played.

×4

Frozen

Saltpetre Experiment

Event

Trash any 1 card from your hand or discard pile. Returns to Market.

Melted

—

Event

Cannot be melted. Returns to Market after played.

×4

Chronicle Cards (12 Unique)

1 copy each. Reveal at start of round. Shuffled into a face-down deck.

Era I

Chronicle

I: King Zimri-Lim's Ice House

1 Round. Ancient Foundations. All players: Melt Limit +1. First to melt gains +2 Glory.

c. 1750 BCE — Mesopotamia

Era I

Chronicle

II: The Yakhchal & Radiative Cooling

1 Round. Ice From Nothing. Each player gains 1 free Market card (cost 3 or less). +2 Glory for melting Storage.

c. 500 BCE — Persia

Era II

Chronicle

III: Saladin's Gift to Richard

1 Round. The Enemy's Kindness. Choose a rival. Give 1 card from hand to rival: both gain +3 Glory. If not, both gain nothing.

1191 — The Third Crusade

Era II

Chronicle

IV: Buontalenti's Banquet

1 Round. A Delicious Invention. Play 3+ different types in a turn: +2 Glory. Wild cards +1 extra.

1565 — Florence

Chronicle Cards (continued)

1 copy each.

Era III

Chronicle

V: Ice Palace of St. Petersburg

1 Round. The Grand Spectacle. +5 Glory for most melts (must melt at least 1; tied: +3 each). No Market buying (Events OK).

1740 — Russia

Era III

Chronicle

VI: Tudor's First Shipment

Permanent. A New Industry. First time each player buys Tier 3+: +2 Glory. First to 10 Glory: +3 bonus.

1806 — Boston to Martinique

Era III

Chronicle

VII: Ice to Calcutta

2 Rounds. The Long Voyage. Set aside up to 3 cards face-down. Next round return them, discard 1, gain +2 Glory per returned card.

1833 — 100 of 180 tons survive

Era IV

Chronicle

VIII: Carlo Gatti's Ice Wells

1 Round. Deep Storage. All: Melt Limit +1. Cards melted this round produce double passive output for 1 turn.

1857 — London

Chronicle Cards (continued)

1 copy each.

Era IV

Chronicle

IX: The Great Ice Famine

1 Round. The Thaw. Each player chooses: lose 3 Glory (min 0) OR demolish 1 melted card. No melted cards: must lose 3 Glory.

1889–90 — Hudson Valley

Era IV

Chronicle

X: The Wisconsin Ice Wars

1 Round. Sabotage! After Play, name a card type targeting a rival. They reveal hand; if they hold that type, discard 1.

1900–01

Era V

Chronicle

XI: Project Habakkuk

1 Round. Pykrete Protocol. Play Tool AND Storage: +4 Glory. Have both types melted at end: +2 Glory.

1943 — WWII

Era V

Chronicle

XII: The Last Block

Permanent. The End of an Era. No buying Tier 1 cards (cost 2) for rest of game. Every time you melt: +1 Glory.

1987 — Pilsen

Reference Cards

Print 1 per player. Quick rules summary for the table.

Turn Order

1. Collect → 2. Draw (5 cards) → 3. Play → 4. Buy (1 card) → 5. Melt (up to 2) → 6. Cleanup

Collect: Gain from melted passives.
Draw: 5 cards (+ Draw Bonus, max +3).
Play: Any/all from hand. Crowns are temp.
Buy: 1 from Market (2 with Wyeth's Plow). -1 cost for 2 Contracts.
Melt: Up to 2 from hand. +1 Contract each. Place Melted side up in Ice House.
Cleanup: Discard hand. Lose unspent Crowns.

Spending Contracts

4 Contracts: +1 Glory (repeatable)
3 Contracts: Melt +1 this turn (once)
3 Contracts: Draw +1 this turn (once)
2 Contracts: -1 cost on next buy (once)
4 Contracts: Protected from Glory loss until next turn (once)

Follow (3-4P): Discard 1 card from hand when another player plays a card. Gain +1 Contract. Once per card played. No Follow at 2P.
Thaw Bonus (3-4P): Lowest Glory player gains +1 Crown and Draw +1.
Glory Target: 20 (2P) / 22 (3P) / 25 (4P).

Ice House Rules

Starts with 5 slots. Expand with melted cards.

Slot expanders: Snow Shovel/Foundations (+1), Small Ice House (+2), Sawdust Insulation (+3), Branike Ledarny (+3), Yakhchal (unlimited), Baltazar Ushca (unlimited).
Demolish: Remove a melted card from game to free a slot. You choose which. Losing a slot-expander shrinks capacity — demolish more until legal.
Ice Elevator: Return a melted card to discard (Frozen side) to free a slot and recycle a card.

Key Limits

Melt Limit: Base 2. Ice Tongs (3). Tudor's Empire (4). Radiative Cooling (+1). Spend 3 Contracts (+1). Chronicles may add.
Draw Bonus: Max +3. Draw 5+N, keep 5, rest to bottom of deck in any order.
Buy Limit: 1 per turn. Wyeth's Plow: 2. Opium Clipper: +1.
Per-Melt Effects: +1 Contract per card melted (uncapped). Glory from per-melt effects: once per turn only.
Wild Cards: Count as all types for triggering passives, 1 type for counting different types.